As Valentine’s Day bears down upon us, let’s reacquaint ourselves with a much misunderstood creature; Cupid. Cupid isn’t the chubby, bow and arrow-wielding baby. Cupid or Eros, comes from Greek mythology. The story of Eros and Psyche, isn’t a tale of hearts, flowers and Teuscher chocolates, but of something dark, profound and, ultimately, beautiful.

Love is marketed as something to which we’re all entitled and that's easy to attain. The myth portrays love as a difficult inner journey that requires letting go of one’s childish beliefs of love and sexuality, the struggle to become a fully-formed, autonomous individual and rebirth into a greater awareness, which is the prerequisite to a relationship of two equal, independent beings.

Psyche was the most beautiful daughter of an old Greek king; so beautiful that Venus, the goddess of love, became jealous (you know how some goddesses are). Venus enlisted her son, Eros, to pierce Psyche with one of his arrows so she’d fall madly in love with the ugliest man in the world.

Eros, very much a mama’s boy who enjoyed making mischief in the lives and hearts of men, agreed. Instead of carrying out his mother’s orders, Eros fell in love with Psyche and married her. Eros didn’t tell mom (some men aren't able to cut the apron strings).

Meanwhile, men in the kingdom couldn’t muster the nerve to approach Psyche (t-y-p-i-c-a-l). She was admired, but unloved and alone. Her two elder plain sisters married. Not knowing what to do, Psyche’s parents consulted a psychologist (or an oracle as they were known in ancient times) who predicted Psyche would marry a hideous monster. They were to leave her on a mountain to meet her doom. * The ancient Greeks had a thing about leaving maidens, infant princes and heroes who angered the gods on high mountain tops to die.

The king and queen returned home. Psyche accepted her fate knowing it was the result of the hubris of men comparing her to a deity and Envy. Crying and afraid, Psyche waited for the monster.

Instead, the North wind, Zephyrus, calmed and caressed Psyche as he carried her to a fabulous palace and explained that her groom wasn’t an ugly monster, but a gorgeous Greek god.

That night, Eros came to her. At first, she was afraid. She could feel and hear Eros, but could neither see him nor would he tell her his name. Psyche blindly accepted him and they spent many blissful nights together, with Eros always leaving, unseen, before sunrise.

Although the sex was great, Psyche missed her family. She begged Eros to let her sisters visit. He refused, but she pleaded, cajoled, and threatened to harm herself until he gave in. She could give her sisters all the palace riches, but never answer questions about him. If she did, she’d be driven from the palace and lose Eros forever.

Psyche’s sisters arrived and became envious. They pressed for information. Psyche resisted. Eros warned they meant harm and Psyche promised to keep quiet. Soon she was pregnant and her sisters were more jealous.

They planted suspicion by suggesting her husband was really a terrible serpent that would devour her and her unborn child. (Never underestimate the destructive power of jealous, unhappy women).

Believing the worst, she gave into her fears and carried out the sisters’ plot to stab Eros as he slept. When Psyche shined a lamp upon his face, she saw his beauty, pricked herself with an arrow and fell madly in love.

In her passion, she spilled hot oil on him and he awoke. Eros banished her and fled to his mother’s sea cave (men ran home to mummy, even in ancient mythological times).

Thus began a long period during which Psyche searched for Eros, praying to the gods for help, but to no avail. Venus imprisoned Eros and vowed to destroy Psyche. She sent Mercury, the messenger god, to warn all creatures they'd suffer the same fate if they helped Psyche. (This may be why the phrase “mother-in-law from Hell” was coined).

Tired, weary and wishing no harm to others, Psyche plead for mercy and was tortured (whilst pregnant with Venus’ grandchild). Venus demanded impossible tasks of Psyche to prove herself worthy. The only creatures to offer assistance were ants, the river reeds and an eagle. The final task sent her to the underworld, where she fell into a deep sleep.

Eros recovered and escaped mom to save Psyche. He sought Zeus’ help (father of the gods). Zeus forgave Eros and blessed the marriage.

Psyche was made an immortal to restore Venus' pride. Eros and Psyche ascended to heaven where the gods celebrated their union and she gave birth to their child, Pleasure (Voluptua).

What does the tale of Eros and Psyche tell us of love? Read the second half, which follows tomorrow.